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Metabolic responses to salinity changes in the subantarctic notothenioid teleost Eleginops maclovinus

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Abstract

Eleginops maclovinus is an endemic, subantarctic Notothenioidei species. This study examined the influence of different environmental salinities (5, 15, and 45 psu; and 32 psu as a control) on energy metabolism in E. maclovinus over a period of 14 days. Metabolite contents and enzymatic activities related to carbohydrate, amino acid, and lipid metabolisms were evaluated in metabolic (liver) and osmoregulatory (gill and kidney) tissues. At extreme salinities (5 and 45 psu), the liver showed a high consumption of energy reserves, mainly as amino acids and carbohydrates. Carbohydrate metabolism in the gills did not change under different salinities, but increased lactate levels were found, suggesting that this tissue may use lactate as an energy substrate. Amino acid metabolism in the gills decreased at 5 psu but increased at 45 psu, and lipid metabolism increased at 5 and 15 psu during the first days of the trial, indicating a possible use of lipids as energy. Kidney carbohydrate catabolism and amino acid metabolism increased after 14 days at 45 psu, while lipid metabolism did not vary in relation to salinity changes. Together, these results suggest that the liver is most affected by salinity changes, probably due to its role as a supplier of energetic substrates. The gills and kidney, osmoregulatory tissues, maintained their energy metabolism levels with minor modifications. In conclusion, E. maclovinus exhibits metabolic adjustments to adapt to different salinities, showing the best responses in isosmotic environmental salinities.

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Acknowledgments

This study was carried out within the framework of Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (FONDECYT) Project 1110235 and Fondap-Ideal Grant 15150003. We thank Dr. Lafayette Eaton and Ashley VanCott (BIOPUB) for their help in reviewing this manuscript, as well as the Dirección de Investigación of the Universidad Austral de Chile for their support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile

    L. Vargas-Chacoff, F. Moneva, R. Oyarzún, D. Martínez, E. Saavedra & C. Bertrán

  2. Centro Fondap de Investigación de Altas Latitudes (IDEAL), Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile

    L. Vargas-Chacoff

  3. Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMar), Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal

    I. Ruiz-Jarabo

  4. Centro I-Mar, Universidad de los Lagos, Puerto Montt, Chile

    J. L. P. Muñoz

  5. Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI-MAR), Universidad de Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain

    J. M. Mancera

Authors
  1. L. Vargas-Chacoff
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  2. F. Moneva
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  3. R. Oyarzún
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  4. D. Martínez
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  5. E. Saavedra
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  6. I. Ruiz-Jarabo
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  7. J. L. P. Muñoz
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  8. C. Bertrán
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  9. J. M. Mancera
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Vargas-Chacoff.

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

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All experimental procedures complied with guidelines of the Comisión Nacional de Ciencias y Tecnología de Chile (CONICYT) and the Universidad Austral de Chile for the use of laboratory animals.

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Vargas-Chacoff, L., Moneva, F., Oyarzún, R. et al. Metabolic responses to salinity changes in the subantarctic notothenioid teleost Eleginops maclovinus . Polar Biol 39, 1297–1308 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1854-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1854-1

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